Update 3-27-07

Hi,

All right, last Friday, I called Wall's Bakery -- technically, Wall's Bake Shop -- and asked if they would ship some macaroons to California.  The man I spoke with said I'd just missed the shipping period.  He stops sending cookies and cakes a week before Passover.  But he added that since Passover comes midweek this year, it's throwing off his schedule.  And since he still had one more package to send on Tuesday the 27th, he said if I kept my order simple, he'd send me some cookies.  So I have a small box of what are called chocolate-dipped, vanilla macaroons being sent to me this morning.  Though the guy did warn that it would "cost a fortune, because it's going to the other side of the world."
   
    Other food notes, first from Barbara Blitfield Pech to Zelda White Nichols:  You might be thinking of Hamburger Local in the Daitch Shopping Center on Broadway in Hewlett, across from the former location of Shore's.  On a long ago visit to the Island, I stopped by to give the kid a mom flashback to hot-dog heaven -- outside "the Nathan's experience" and ever beyond visiting Kosher Deli -- only to find Shore's was now a Burger King.  But it had one of the early indoor playgrounds, so my kid was delighted nonetheless.  An indoor playground is not anything that is ever going to happen in Florida.  Then again, either is snow.
   
    Similarly, from Betsy Fels Pottruck '67:  The last time I was in Hewlett, Shore's was a Burger King, but that was about eight years ago.  So I am not sure what it is today.  But it has not been Shore's for a very long time.
        And what about Leo and Molly's Luncheonette on Mill Road?  They made the best egg salad sandwiches on rye toast, and delicious eggs creams -- remember them?

    From Barnet Kellman:  I’ve enjoyed reading everyone's reminiscences.  A lot of great neighborhood details, and I can’t believe how closely we all watched TV.  Now, here’s a question:  Does anybody remember those old calendars and posters featuring chimps doing human activities?  I’m looking to find one but have had no luck on ebay. Does anyone know what they were called, or where I could find one?

    [Rich -- I told Barnet about a chimp calendar on calendar.com, located through a quick Google search.  But if anyone has additional sources, I'm sure Barnet would be happy to know them.]
   
    From Lynn Nudelman Villagran:  I'm enjoying reading about peoples' memories of TV and food.  I remember Saturday morning cartoons of Mighty Mouse and Mickey Mouse, and the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and of course The Mickey Mouse Club.  Cubby and Karen were my favorite mouseketeers.  Woodro's in the Hewlett Shopping Center was a favorite for corn beef, hot dogs, and knishes, always followed by a visit to Carvel ice cream for dessert.  I remember Shore's, too.  We always went there after school to hang out.
   
    From Jean Cohen Oklan:  Residing an hour from Montreal, I have to disagree with Helen David concerning the Montreal bagels.  I had one this morning and, I admit, they taste nothing like a New York bagel.  They resemble a bagel in that they have a hole in the center, but they are sweeter, lighter, and wood-fired.  And they are delicious.  The only suggestion I have is to call a Montreal bagel something different and make no comparisons.  In fact, I think I'm gonna go toast up another right now.
   
    From Robert Fiveson:  Greetings from Panama.  I must be getting old because the stories about Lee Marvin and Bob Keeshan actually moved me almost to tears.  Sadly, we have young people in harm's way again.
        Soupy Sales once encouraged kids to go into mom or dad's wallet while they were sleeping and send him a dollar.  In return, he would send them a postcard from -- I think it was -- Tahiti.  He was off the air for a while after that.  It actually happened because I saw that show.
        The show I didn't see,  which remains apocryphal, is the one where Soupy asked Fang what letter he was holding up.  It was an F, but Fang kept saying it was a K.  At which point, Soupy asked, "How come every time I see F you see K?"
        As for food:  I leave you with three words -- Jan's Kitchen Sink.
   
    From Evelyn Roedel Read '59:  Thank you for e-mailing me my first copy of the newsletter which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Just to clarify, I was Evelyn Roedel back in '59.  "Read" is my married name, very appropriate for someone who retired from teaching first graders how to read, among other things, after thirty-four years in the Middle Country School District of Selden, Centereach, and Lake Grove, Long Island.  I retired in 1997.
         I enjoyed those TV memories, and perhaps you may remember these, if they haven't already been mentioned:
        I loved to watch Jon Gnagy (the "G" is silent) teaching us to draw with charcoal.  Two lessons come to mind:  the perspective lesson, using the railroad tracks that disappeared as one looked down the tracks, and the lesson about drawing a dog.  I often sat there with my sketch pad, trying to keep up.
         Going back further, to elementary school days, I remember Miss Frances and her "Ding Dong School," and "The Magic Cottage," where the magic words "Magic Roooo Baloooo" transferred us to an enchanted garden by the Magic Cottage.
         There was also a program with Ray Forrest, which visited places like factories to learn how things like candy canes were made.  The Food Network has a similar show called "Unwrapped," which I enjoy today.
          And there was a game show where two teams competed to see which blindfolded member of each team could guess what food they were tasting or what they were smelling.  I used that same teamwork game in my first grade class each year when we were learning about the Five Senses.  My classes loved it.  Each day, we had one challenge for sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch.
         My brother Walter and I loved the 4:00 PM cowboy shows featuring Hopalong Cassidy, and westerns featuring Gabby Hayes.  I remember Cisco and his Mexican friend Pancho, and The Lone Ranger and his sidekick, Tonto (Jay Silverheels).
         We only had one TV in the house, and Walter and I shared it fairly, without arguments.  One of my fondest memories of him is that he allowed me to watch Kate Smith because he knew I really enjoyed her show.
         The two of us loved those horror movies with Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, or Lon Chaney, and cartoons with Popeye and Olive Oil, Bugs Bunny, or Donald Duck.  If anyone is interested, many old movies and shows are on DVD format and can be purchased online from Nina's Discount Oldies, PO Box 77, Narberth, Pennsylvania  19072-0077.  I just ordered a load of 50s CDs from them, and they sent me an eighty-eight page, newspaper-size catalog, with over 10,000 classic movies and TV shows on DVD.  You can also call them at:  800-336-4627.  Perhaps, they will send you  their catalog.  But go on line for their music.  Their four-volume collection of six CD sets of '50s music was less than it was at B.J.'s for the same items.  Plus, there was no tax, and shipping is free for purchases over fifty dollars.
   
    Finally, now that they've been approved, here are highlights from the long-delayed minutes of the January Alumni Association meeting, as usual respectfully submitted by Roberta Brill Birnel:
        Before the meeting was called to order, several members went into the courtyard to see the new pond and bridge, and the site of the coming tree and benches donated by the Association.  These will be put in place by spring.
        The following members were present at the meeting:  Roberta Brill Birnel, Paul DeMartino, Booker Gibson, Karen Grimm, Eileen Howell, Linda Tobin Kettering, Irwin Kotcher, Edie Mandel, Claire Brush Reinhardt, Ray Richford, Emily Kleinman Schreiber, Dennis Shapiro, Eric Spinner, Irene Sundal, Ken Ulric, Laura Waxman Ulric, and Patrick Yngstrom.
        Before addressing the agenda, Emily introduced Adam Schechter, the first-year faculty advisor to the Southern Bell -- formerly the Southern Belle.  He showed us the December issue of the newspaper with a new layout format.  The staff would like to print on newsprint, which would cost about $700 to $800 per sixteen-page issue. There are six issues printed each school year.  Adam Schechter and Juwandeep Singh, the senior editor, asked the Alumni Association to advertise in the paper to help them raise money.  They are also hoping to have a website up and running by next year, so that school news can be updated regularly between printed issues.  They think this will improve the journalism skills of contributors.  A full-page ad for one issue is $60; for a full year, $200.  A half page ad for one issue is $40; for a full year, $100.  A quarter page ad for one issue is $25; for a full year, $50.  If any alumni are interested in running ads as support, checks should be made out to:  Valley Stream South High School.
        There were two reunions held since our last meeting: the classes of ’86 and ’66.  The Class of ’67 will hold their reunion on July 28th at the Huntington Hilton.  Contact Andrea Schwartz Neenan for information.
        Karen Morgenroth Welkis ’63 has made an offer to set up an ongoing scholarship for $1,000 in honor of her father.  It would be awarded for community service.  We had a lively discussion regarding the school's scholarship recipient selection process.  The group would like the Alumni Association to play a role in that process.  Booker Gibson told us that the recipients of the awards established in his and Vincent Tampio’s names are selected by the school committee, and he feels assured that the awards go to deserving students.  Linda Tobin Kettering also feels that if our scholarship criteria are specific enough, we should trust the school’s choice.  Emily will check further into the matter, and has asked Principal Stephen Lando's secretary Liz King Giordano to create a form to be used by Alumni Association members who want to donate money for scholarships.
        (A quick follow-up:  On February 10th, Emily learned more about the scholarship selection process while attending a school district meeting with Superintendent Bernstein.  It will be discussed further at the next meeting.  Also, Liz King Giordano has sent Emily the forms that need to be submitted if any member wants to sponsor a scholarship.)
        Lori Tintella thanked the Association for the $100 given for Hoops for Hearts.  Ken Ulric brought up the Acts of Kindness suggestion of Roto Care.  In trying to involve students in this project, it was suggested that money receptacles could be placed around the school -- for example, in the cafeteria and the main office -- so that supplies can be bought for the organization.  We did not come to a final conclusion about this.  Robin Feit Baker had suggested helping veterans as an Act of Kindness.  To this point, Patrick Yngstrom made an impassioned pitch for helping homeless veterans in Nassau County.  There are an estimated 4,000 who need assistance.  Pat’s organization runs two “Stand Downs” each year, one in July and one in November.  Clothing, food, haircuts, showers, and support are provided to these men and women who are mostly from the Vietnam era.  Each "Stand Down" costs about $2,000, and Pat could use a co-sponsor.  The Alumni Association board voted to donate $500.  The organization also run a thrift store, which will pick up donated furniture.  Frank Amalfitano, who runs United Vets Beacon House, can be reached at:  631-665-1571.
        (A second side note:  On Feb 12th, Emily sent a message by e-mail to Alumni Association members and non-members urging them to donate by sending a check to United Veterans' Organization of Nassau County.  She made that presidential decision because she felt we'd raise more money that way.  And we did -- over $1200.)
        Dennis Shapiro presented the Treasurer’s report.  We have $4,597.34, with 303 members, 22 of who have joined since last summer.
        New Business:
        Emily has asked for volunteers to submit articles for the Alumni Association Newsletter, which she has been writing on her own.
        Eileen Howell has suggested a once-per-year request for donations from members.
        It has also been decided that our current memberships will extend to September 2007, at which time a new membership year -- to follow the school calendar -- will begin.
        Pat Yngstrom moved that we take out a half page ad for a full year in the Southern Bell.  This was seconded by Paul DeMartino and accepted by the members.
        Old Business:
        The members present decided to move our final discussion about the by-laws to the next meeting, at which time they will be finished.
        Future meeting dates for 2007 are:  April 26, May 17, and June 28.